According to the Liverpool Echo, Luke Garbutt ‘will leave’ Everton this summer. The 26-year-old hasn’t made an appearance for the Toffees since 2015 and is out of contract at the end of the season, so a departure has been on the cards for some time.
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Garbutt joined Everton from Leeds United in 2009 and has gone on to make 12 appearances in all competitions since rising through the youth ranks to the first-team in 2014. He’s struggled for playing time, however, as Leighton Baines and Lucas Digne are ahead in the pecking order, leading to the left-back opting for loan moves away from Goodison Park.
As per Transfermarkt, Garbutt made 37 appearances for Cheltenham Town (September 29, 2011 – May 31, 2012), 20 appearances for Colchester United (September 13, 2013 – January 28, 2014), 26 appearances for Fulham (July 25, 2015 – May 31, 2016), eight appearances for Wigan Athletic (August 16, 2016 – January 2, 2017), 36 appearances for Oxford United (July 2, 2018 – May 31, 2019) and 30 appearances for Ipswich Town (July 12, 2019 – present).
He’s been a regular for Ipswich and has impressed for the Tractor Boys this season, but Garbutt is still only playing two divisions below Everton. He’ll turn 27 in May and clearly isn’t good enough to challenge for a starting place at Goodison Park. It’s been five years since he last turned out for the Toffees so he won’t be missed.